Insulation sleeve for a beverage cup

ABSTRACT

An insulation sleeve for a beverage cup includes an outer sleeve layer formed from a looped sheet, and a foam layer coated on an inner surface of the outer sleeve layer. The outer sleeve layer has two opposite open ends and is tapered from one of the open ends to the other open end. The insulation sleeve can be manufactured easily as the foam layer is simply coated on the outer sleeve layer. The insulation sleeve provides a smoother surface for printing, thus obtaining a higher print quality.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority of Taiwanese application no. 100201525, Jan. 24, 2011.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an insulation sleeve for a beverage cup, and more particularly to an insulation sleeve adapted to be disposed around the surrounding wall of the beverage cup.

2. Description of the Related Art

Disposable paper or plastic cups routinely used to contain hot beverages (water, tea, coffee, soup and the like) impose thermal insulating problems. The thin wall of the disposable container lacks thermal insulating effect, such that the heat from the hot beverages poses a major problem while grasping the rip. The hot beverage also softens the cup body, making it hard to hold. Therefore, there are various insulation sleeves that are sized to fit around the side wall of a beverage cup for preventing heat from transferring outward and for assisting the user in firmly holding the cup.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a conventional insulation sleeve 1 is made by looping a corrugated paper sheet, and is sleeved around a cup body 2. The insulation sleeve 1 has an outer sleeve layer 11, and a wavy sheet layer 12 glued to an inner surface of the outer sleeve layer 11. A plurality of thermal insulating pockets 13 are defined between the outer sleeve layer 11 and the wavy sheet layer 12.

The insulation sleeve 1, when used, is sleeved onto the cup body 2 to be grasped by the user. By virtue of the thermal insulating pockets 13 which provide insulation effects, the user's hand may be protected from getting burned. However, because the wavy sheet layer 12 made of the corrugated paper is easily deformable, printed letters or patterns on the outer sleeve layer 11 will be distorted when the wavy sheet layer 12 deforms.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide an insulation sleeve that has improved thermal insulating effects, is simple to process and improves a print quality on the insulation sleeve.

According to one aspect of the present invention, an insulation sleeve for a beverage cup comprises an outer sleeve layer formed as a looped sheet and adapted to be disposed around the beverage cup. The outer sleeve layer has two opposite open ends. The insulation sleeve further comprises a foam layer coated on an inner surface of the outer sleeve layer.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a beverage cup comprises a cup body that has a bottom wail, and a surrounding wall extending upward from the bottom wall, and an insulation sleeve adapted to be disposed around the cup body. The insulation sleeve includes an outer sleeve layer formed as a looped sheet, and a foam layer. The outer sleeve layer has two opposite open ends and is tapered from one of the open ends to the other one of the open ends. The foam layer is coated on an inner surface of the outer sleeve layer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the three preferred embodiments of this invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a conventional insulation sleeve;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of the conventional insulation sleeve;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the first preferred embodiment of the insulation sleeve according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the second preferred embodiment of the insulation sleeve of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the second preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the third preferred embodiment of the insulation sleeve of the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the third preferred embodiment, illustrating the insulation sleeve in a folded state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Before the present invention is described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying preferred embodiments, it should be noted herein that like elements are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the disclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the first preferred embodiment of an insulation sleeve 3 according to the present invention is sleeved onto an outer side of the cup body 4. The cup body 4 may be a disposable paper or plastic cup and may be used to hold water, tea, coffee, soup or the like. The cup body 4 includes a bottom wall 41, and a surrounding wall 42 extending upwardly from a peripheral edge of the bottom wall 41. The bottom wall 41 and the surrounding wall 42 cooperatively form a receiving space 43 that opens upwardly to receive a hot beverage. The insulation sleeve 3 includes an outer sleeve layer 31, a foam layer 32, and a printed pattern layer 33.

The outer sleeve layer 31 is in the form of a looped sheet and may be formed by looping and gluing a sheet material that has a certain level of stiffness. The outer sleeve layer 31 is adapted to be disposed around the surrounding wall 42 of the cup body 4, and has two opposite open ends 310, an inner surface 311 to abut against the outer side of the surrounding wall 42 of the cup body 4, and an outer surface 312 that is opposite to the surrounding wall 42, and a joint seam 315 that extends from one of the open ends 310 to the other open end 310. The outer sleeve layer 31 is tapered from one of the open ends 310 to the other open end 310. The sheet material for the outer sleeve layer 31 can be selected from paper, plastic, a film-laminated paper, and other suitable composite materials.

The foam layer 32 is formed by coating the inner surface 311 of the outer sleeve layer 31 with a foaming paste, and is used to contact the surrounding wall 42 of the cup body 4. The foam layer 32 in this embodiment has a ring-shaped insulation member 321 that is formed angularly and continuously as a complete ring on the inner surface 311. During manufacturing, the foaming paste is evenly spread on the outer sleeve layer 31 by roller printing, thereby forming the foam layer 32. The foaming paste may be obtained by mixing 37.5˜56.25 parts by weight of a polyurethane dispersion, 22.5˜33.75 parts by weight of a foaming agent, and 10˜40 parts by weight of water. In addition, the mixing ratio of polyurethane dispersion and foaming agent may be 5:3.

The printed pattern layer 33 is printed on the outer surface 312 of the outer sleeve layer 31, and includes several patterns 331. The patterns 331 can be pictures, logos, trademarks, or the like with different shapes and sizes. Of course, the number of the patterns 331 may be just one, or the patterns 331 may be omitted. On the other hand, the insulation sleeve 3 may further have a water-resistant layer (not shown) coated on the printed pattern layer 33 to prevent the insulation sleeve 3 from getting wet and becoming soft.

During manufacturing, the printed pattern layer 33 is printed or coated on the outer surface 312 of the outer sleeve layer 31 before the sheet material of the outer sleeve layer 31 is looped. The mixed foaming paste is evenly coated on the inner surface 311 of the outer sleeve layer 31, and the coated outer sleeve layer 31 is subsequently placed into an oven to allow the foaming paste to foam and to form the foam layer 32. The thickness and density of the foam layer 32 may be varied according to the design requirements. After foaming the foam layer 32, two adjoining ends of the outer sleeve layer 31 are glued to each other to form the joint seam 315 and the frustro-conical shape of the outer sleeve layer 31. Because the foam layer 32 and the printed pattern layer 33 are formed on the outer sleeve layer 31 by printing or coating, the insulation sleeve 3 can be manufactured with relative ease.

During usage, the insulation sleeve 3 is sleeved around the surrounding wail 42 of the cup body 4 with the foam layer 32 being in contact with the surrounding wall 42 of the cup body 4. When a hot beverage is poured into the receiving space 43 of the cup body 4, the foam layer 32 will insulate the heat transmitted through the cup body 4 and prevent the same from burning the hand of a user. In addition, the outer surface 312 of the outer sleeve layer 31 can provide a smooth layer beneficial for printing the printed pattern layer 33 thereon. This prevents distortion of the patterns 331, and an improved print quality can be achieved.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the second preferred embodiment is generally similar to the first preferred embodiment of this invention, except that the shape of the foam layer 32 is different in this embodiment. The foam layer 32 has a plurality of the insulation members 321 that are spaced apart angularly and extend axially, and a plurality of gaps 322 formed between the first insulation members 321 and terminating at the two open ends 310 of the outer sleeve layer 31. During usage, the thermal insulating effects are provided by the air in the gaps 322 in addition to the solid insulation members 321. The material for forming the foam layer 32 can thus be reduced to lower the manufacturing cost. While the insulation members 321 extend axially, they may be arranged to extend inclinedly or spirally. The insulation members 321 may have a regular or irregular shape, or any desired shape.

As shown in FIG. 7, the third preferred embodiment is generally similar to the second preferred embodiment of this invention, except that the shape of the foam layer 32 is different in this embodiment. The foam layer 32 has a plurality of first insulation members 323 and second insulation members 324, all of which are spaced apart angularly and extend axially. The first insulation members 323 and second insulation members 324 define a plurality of gaps 325 extending from top to bottom and terminating at the open ends 310 of the outer sleeve layer 31. The first insulation members 323 are arranged in several annular rows. The first insulation members 323 in each annular row are staggered with respect to the first insulation members 323 in an adjacent row. The second insulation members 324 are arranged in top and bottom annular rows near the open ends 310 of the outer sleeve layer 31. The shape of the first insulation members 323 is different from that of the second insulation members 324. The first insulation members 323 have a long block shape, whereas the second insulation members 324 have a short block shape. Of course, combinations of other shapes, such as elliptical or circular shape, may be used in the embodiment. The orientations of the first and second insulation members 323, 324 may also be altered. The first insulation members 323 or the second insulation members 324 may be omitted optionally, or other insulation members with different shapes may be added.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 7, two opposite fold lines 313 may be formed in the outer sleeve layer 31 in the second and third preferred embodiments. Each of the fold lines 313 extends axially in the respective one of the gaps 322, 325, and includes a plurality of spaced slits 314 that are aligned axially. As shown in FIG. 8, the insulation sleeve 3 can be pressed and flattened when folded along the fold lines 313 to have a compact form for saving storage space. During usage, the insulation sleeve 3 can be unfolded into a ring shape as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7 to sleeve around the cup body 4.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what are considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation and equivalent arrangements. 

1. An insulation sleeve for a beverage cup having a surrounding wall, comprising: an outer sleeve layer formed as a looped sheet and adapted to be disposed around the surrounding wall of the beverage cup, said outer sleeve layer having two opposite open ends; and a foam layer coated on an inner surface of said outer sleeve layer.
 2. The insulation sleeve as claimed in claim 1, wherein said outer sleeve layer further has a joint seam that extends from one of said open ends to the other one of said open ends of said outer sleeve layer, and is tapered from one of said open ends to the other one of said open ends.
 3. The insulation sleeve as claimed in claim 1, wherein said foam layer has a ring-shaped insulation member that extends angularly and continuously over said inner surface of said outer sleeve layer.
 4. The insulation sleeve as claimed in claim 1, wherein said foam layer has a plurality of insulation members that are spaced apart angularly and extend axially, and a plurality of gaps extending between said insulation members and terminating at said open ends of said outer sleeve layer.
 5. The insulation sleeve as claimed in claim 1, wherein said foam layer has a plurality of first insulation members that are spaced apart angularly and axially, a plurality of second insulation members that are spaced apart angularly and axially, and a plurality of gaps extending between said first and second insulation members, each of said first insulation members being staggered angularly with respect to an adjacent one of said first insulation members, said second insulation members alternating with said first insulation members near said open ends of said outer sleeve layer.
 6. The insulation sleeve as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a printed pattern layer formed on an outer surface of said outer sleeve layer.
 7. The insulation sleeve as claimed in claim 6, wherein said printed pattern layer has at least one pattern.
 8. The insulation sleeve as claimed in claim 1, wherein said foam layer has a plurality of insulation members that are spaced apart angularly and extend axially, a plurality of gaps extending between said insulation members and terminating at said open ends, and two opposite fold lines, each of which is formed in said outer sleeve layer between two adjacent ones of said insulation members.
 9. The insulation sleeve of claim 1, wherein said outer sleeve layer is made from a sheet material, and said foam layer is made from a foaming paste.
 10. The insulation sleeve of claim 9, wherein said foaming paste includes a polyurethane dispersion, and a foaming agent.
 11. A beverage cup comprising: a cup body having a bottom wall and a surrounding wall extending upward from said bottom wall; and an insulation sleeve including an outer sleeve layer formed as a looped sheet and disposed around said surrounding wall of said cup body, and a foam layer coated on an inner surface of said outer sleeve layer, said outer sleeve layer having two opposite open ends and being tapered from one of said open ends to the other one of said open ends.
 12. The beverage cup as claimed in claim 11, wherein said outer sleeve layer further has a joint seam that extends from one of said open ends to the other one of said open ends of said outer sleeve layer.
 13. The beverage cup of claim 12, wherein said outer sleeve layer is made from a sheet material, and said foam layer is made from of a foaming paste.
 14. The beverage cup of claim 13, wherein said foaming paste includes a polyurethane dispersion and a foaming agent. 